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Founded in a Boston dormroom

BAC limit reduction proposed

The Chron reports that the National Transportation Safety Board, an independent agency of the Federal Government, has put out a non-binding recommendations to lower the maximum legal drinking-and-driving limit, the “Blood alcohol content” level, from 0.08% to 0.05%.

Additionally, the board, among other recommendations, asked for all drivers convicted of DWI to be required to use interlock devices on their vehicles. Deborah Hersman, the Chairwoman of the NTSB, stated “Alcohol-impaired deaths are not accidents, they are crimes. They can and should be prevented. The tools exist. What is needed is the will.”

But here’s the problem, the tools exist to completely eliminate Drunk Driving, just as they exist to eliminate terrorism. However, the only way to do so is to horrendously mess with our civil liberties. The way to completely eliminate Drunk Driving is the “Saudi Arabia solution,” that is making alcohol completely illegal and chopping off the hands of any offenders. Between the firebrand teetotalers on the right and the bedwetting pansies on the left, I fear we are drifting towards this.

Very seldom do they figure out that the kid who is found wrapped around a telephone pole actually had a BAC of 0.05, 0.06 or even 0.07%. The main issue is not enforcing the current laws we have. Now now, I know that I sound like one of those libertarians on guns, but for this, the principles actually hold true. 0.05% is about one drink in someone like me. The effect of such a law is that it would disqualify legal driving for most women after just one or two glasses of wine.

I expect many in this State to fight hard against this, and expect me to be right there with ’em!